Selectively operable mechanism for typographical machines and the like



Sept. 1', 1942. D. COLMAN SELEGTIVELY OPERABLE MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES AND THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 L. LT

Filed Sept. 23, 1.939

INVENTOR 7 Howard D. Co/man BY 6M4; awe,

)W ORNEY5 Sept. 1, 19.42. H. D. COLMAN 2,294,385

S ELECTIVELY OPEBABLE MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 23, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 H \Q m INVENTOR Howard D. Colman Y Y 2, fiaww/wd,

ATTORNEYS P 1942- H. D. COLMAN 2,294,385

SELECTIVELY OPERABLE MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 25, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR p 1942- H. D. coLMAN 2,294,385

SEL CTIVELY OPERABL ME I I p 1942- H. D. COLMAN 2,294,385. ssmcnvnu ormwam: uEcflAuIsm FOR wvroeaumcu, mcnmss Ann-m: LIKE Filed Sept; 23, 1939 s sheets-sheep's mvgmoh Howard D. Colman ATTORNEYS p 1, 1 42. H. D. c mm 2,294,385

SELECTIVELY OPEBABLE MECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 23, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Howard D. Cp/man ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' SELECTIVELY OPERABLE IMECHANISM FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES LIKE AND THE Howard D. Colman, Rockford, 111., assignor to Barber-Colman Company, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 23, 1939, Serial No. 296,201

77 Claims.

longitudinally of a line, of characters being com-,v

posed into justified lines. Thus perforators employed in the preparation of control tapes for line casting or type casting machines are ordinarily provided with a part such as an indicator or pointer adapted to be moved in successive incremental steps relative to a scale to totalize and indicate cumulative widths of characters as the corresponding signals are perforated in the tape, so that the operator may determine the point at which the line can be justified.- Indicators of this character are employed for a similar purpose in type casting and line casting machines arranged for keyboard operation. Additionally, in type casting machines accurate movement of a part in extremely small steps is required for adjustment of the type mold to enable it to produce type slugs of the desired set width. In printing and typing machines also, a variable drive is essential for relatively shifting the paper carriage and character impressing mechanism in steps accurately proportioned to the set widths of the characters printed, so that each character will occupy its proper position in the line. Other examples of incrementally movable parts can be cited, but the foregoing are believed suflicient to indicate the environment in which the present inventionis particularly useful.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved selectively operable mechanism for variably moving the incrementally movable parts in machines of the above general character which to a maximum degree is certain and extremely accurate in its operation under all conditions and particularly under the condition of high speed operation.

Another object is to provide a selectively operable mechanism which, while of simple, compact construction, is capable of imparting to the movable part any selected one of a large number of steps of different amplitude.

Another objectis to provide a variable drive mechanism embodying a relatively small numconditioned for operation permutably to enable the mechanism to impart to a movable member any one of a large number of steps of different amplitude. 7

Another object is to provide a novel arrangement of permutably engageable clutches and differential gearing for variably operating a shaft or other driven element.

Still another object is to provide improved means for selectively engaging a group of clutches-in different permutational combinations for variably operating a driven member.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved control strip perforating machine variable drive mechanism particularly suitable her of primary driving elements adapted to be for driving the line register of a keyboard operated composing machine and adapted to produce anextremely accurate measure of the normal set width of characters employed in a composition.

A further object is to provide a novel variable drive mechanism of the above general character adapted to register by appropriate movement of an indicator or. the like the set widths of the characters of the composition and to add thereto fixed increments representing predetermined different spacings of the characters.

Another object is to provide a novel drive mechanism selectively controllable to rotate ashaft in either direction in steps of varying amplitude and operative to impart such rotative steps to the shaft with uniform acceleration and deceleration regardlessly of the direction of rotation of the shaft or the amplitude of the steps.

It is also an object of the invention to provide, in a keyboard operated composing machine or the like, improved means for selectively controlling the direction of rotation of a register drive shaft.

The objects-of the invention above set forth together with other and ancillary advantages are obtained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter more particularly described. It is to be understood, however, that various changes and modifications in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Figure 2 is a partly diagrammatic side elevational view of a variable drive mechanism em-,

bodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the clutches of the drivemechanism.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a spur ential employed in the drive mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective viewsomewhat schematic in character, showing characteristic elements of the keyboard selector mechanism with which the variable drive mechanism is associated and by which it is selectively controlled.

l 'ig. 5 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the control bars and other elements utilized in the selective control and operation of the drive mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the latch bars and cooperating abutment for positioning the same.

Fig. l is a detail view of the uniformly accelgear differ in the above mentioned patent and in copending application Serial No. 313,851 by same applicant.

In order to enable theoperator of the perforator to determine the, point at which a line should be terminated so that it can be justified, suitable means such as a line register is provided I for totalizing and indicating the cumulative width of the characters and spaces as the signals representing them are perforated in the tape. The register of course must be driven variably in accordance with the characters used in the composition and with this in view it is desirable to incorporate in the machine a part adapted to be moved variably in steps of accurately predetermined amplitude under control of the various keys actuated to perforate the character sig nals in the control tape.

In the exemplary machine selected to illustrate the invention, the variably movable part utilized to drive the register comprises a rotatable shaft W (Fig. 2) hereinafter referred to as the regiserated gears comprising a part of the drive mechanism showing the gears in normal rest position.

Figs. 8 and 9 are views similar to Fig. 7 showing the gears in different positions.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view showing details of the uniformly accelerated gear drive.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing the relative arrangement of the variable drive mechanism and the manual keyboard.

By way of illustration,- the improved variable drive mechanism and associated controlling and operating instrumentalities may be used in a keyboard operated control tape composing machine equipped with printing mechanism of the type disclosed in my prior application Serial No. 62,742, filed February '7, 1936, now Patent No. 2,196,354, granted April 9, 1940, and in my copending application Serial No. 313,851, filed January 15, 1940. In general, the keyboard mechanism illustrated is similar to that of the prior application with certain additions and modifications to better adapt it to function with the drive mechanism without materially changing its mode of operation insofar as the printing mechanism is concerned. The connections between the keyboard mechanism and the printing mechanism are fully shown in Fig. 16 of the patent referred to above. I

In the present embodiment of the invention, the composing machine is designed andintended to perforate in a paper strip or the like permutably arranged groups of holes constituting permutational code signals for controlling the operation 7 or other typographic machine. Generally speaking, there are two types of code signals, namely, character signals and function signals. The first mentioned signals "determine the particular character to be produced in the typographic machine while the latter signals initiate various functions of the machine. Simultaneously with the perforating of a character signal on the control strip the corresponding character may, if desired, be printed on a separate visibility sheet of a line casting, type casting, printing ter drive shaft. The present invention is concerned primarily with the driving of an element such as this shaft through any one of a large number of steps, each of which is of different amplitude, and in the present embodiment is applied to the rotation of the register drive shaft in steps accurately proportioned to the set widths of the characters represented by the signals perforated in the control tape and also the widths of ,the spaces to' be interposed be tween the characters in the finished composition. These movements are imparted to the shaft by power driven means through a novel variable drive mechanism constituting a part of a selectively operable mechanism of the machine. The shaft Ill, in turn, is suitably connected to drive a pointer it? (Figs. 1 and 1) relative to a scale S, these parts comprising the indicating portion of a line register LR. In the particular form illustrated, the pointer is carried on a shaft lo drivingly connected with the shaft if! by a clutch device CL which is disengageable to permit restoration of the pointer to normal rest position by a suitable return spring it.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, the variable drive mechanism'in its preferred form comprises an actuating member having a fixed range of movement, herein shown as a cyclically operable shaft Il, conveniently called the primary drive shaft. This shaft is rotatably supported in a plurality of bearings one of which is carried on a rigid frame l2 and the other carried by brackets 53. The frame it may be integral with or suitably secured to the base of the machine in which the mechanism is installed. 'As herein shown, the brackets 53 are mounted on an auxiliary frame 12 secured to the machine base, the brackets being appropriately spaced apart longitudinally of the shaft. Suitable means is provided for rotating the shaft cyclically through its fixed range of movement, in this instance a single revolution, and in either direction, as will appear Presently.

The cyclic rotation of the shaft H through its fixed range is utilized to drive the register drive shaft ill variably through the medium of a transmission or drive mechanism including a series of primary driving elements, It, it, it li M M it, M it ,.capable of being conditioned to be driven by the shaft I l singly or in difierent for the guidance of the operator. Printing mech- 7 anism for accomplishing this result is disclosed per-mutational combinations. For conditioning of similar construction, each comprising a central hub portion l6 (Fig. 2 and an integrally formed gear ll. The driving elements are loosely mounted on the shaft II, one between each pair of brackets l3, and are adapted to be selectively locked either to the shaft or to a stationary part of the frame by movement of the elemerit longitudinally of the shaft. For this purpose, loclsing and driving clutches l8 and Illv are provided, These clutches are herein shown as comprising suitable clutch teeth formed on opposite ends of the hub l6 and adapted to engage cooperating clutch elements such as grooves i8 and is formed respectively in the face of the adjacent bracket l3 and in the face of a collar 20 pinned or otherwise rigidly secured to the shaft ll. Accordingly when a driving element is shifted to the left, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 2*, it is positively locked to the frame structure by the locking clutch I8 and therefore remains stationary when the shaft is rotated. When the driving element is shifted to the right,

' the pinions 32 and 3|.

the teeth of the driving clutch l9 are engaged I to connect the driving element to the collar 20 for rotation with the shaft.

The differential gear units l5 to I5 which operate to combine the movements of the primary elements H to I4, may be of any suit.- able construction. 'It is preferred, however, to employ spur gear differentials which, by reason of their compact construction, require a minimum of space and which can be manufactured with a high degree of accuracy and yet at relatively low cost. Gearing of this character is illustrated and described on page 221 of Mechanism and Mechanical Movements, by Jones,

- The Industrial Press, 1920, first edition.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the spur gear differentials l5 to l5 as herein shown, each comprises a pair of terminal elements in the form of shafts 2| and 22 rotatably supported in axial' to hereinafter are pinned or otherwise rigidly secured to the outer ends of the shafts for driving purposes. Rotational movements imparted to the shafts 2| and 22 by the gears H, H, etc.,,

are transmitted to an intermediate element in the form of a gear 21 in variable amounts according to the selectiveoperation of the locking and driving clutches l8 and I9. For this purpose the following construction is provided.

The intermediate gear 21 is journaled on the right-hand bearing sleeve 23 (Fig. 3) and to it is suitably attached a cup-shaped member or shell 28 extending over the adjacent ends of the shafts 2| and 22 and enclosing the gears 25 and 26. A disk 29 staked or otherwise firmly secured in the open end of the shell 28 cooperates therewith to form a cylindrical gear casing and to provide a bearing for the assembly on the lefthand sleeve 23.

Journaled in the opposite end walls of the gear casing, respectively, with their axes parallel to the axes of the shafts 2i and 22, are a pair of intermeshing spur pinions 3| and 32. The pinions are arranged in offset relation so that pinion 3| meshes with the gear 25 of the lefthand terminal shaft while pinion 32 meshes with the 'ear 26 of the right-hand shaft. Since these pinions also mesh with each other, rotative movement of either shaft individually or the combined rotative movements of both shafts are imparted to the intermediate gear 21. Thus when the shaft 2| is locked against movement and the shaft 22 is rotated, the gear 26 drives As the latter is in mesh with the stationary gear 25, both pinions travel in an orbit around the stationary gear thus'imparting rotation to the gear casing and the attached intermediate gear 21; Conversely, when the shaft 22 is locked against movement and the shaft 2| is rotated, gear 25 drives the pinions 3| and 32 which describe an orbit around the stationary gear 26 and thus impart rotation to the gear case and intermediate gear 21. If both shafts are rotated, the pinions are driven at a higher rate of speed in their orbit around the gears 25 and 26, the gear casing and intermediate gear 21 being turned through an angle proportioned to the combined angular movements of the two shafts. In this way, the intermediate gear is enabled to transmit the motion of either terminal shaft or the combined motions of the two terminal shafts to the succeeding element of the drive mechanism.

In the exemplary drive mechanism shown in Fig. 2, the nine primary elements H are divided into two groups with separate driving gear trains hereinafter referred to as the character registering train and the letter space registering train, respectively. The latter includes the four primary elements, I4, I4 I4, and HF, while. the other five primary elements are included in the character registering train. The purpose of this grouping is to provide for the operation of the register drive shaft from two independent sources of control, in this instance, for registering on the one hand the set widths of characters, and

on the other the width of spaces between char-- acters. The control devices differ in mode of operation, as will be explained in detail hereinafter, but the two driving trains operate as a unit in so, far as their action on the register drive shaft is concerned. I

As herein shown, the four primary driving elements of the letter space registering train are coupled in pairs by the differentials I5 and I5, respectively. The'latter two differentials in turn are coupled by a third differential l5 Thus the gear I! of the primary driving element I4 is arranged to mesh with a terminal'gear 33 on the left-hand terminal shaft of the differential I5, while the gear I! of element I4 is arranged to mesh with gear 34 on the right-hand terminal shaft of that differential. The differential I 5 is similarly driven by the primary elements I4 and l4, its left-hand terminal gear 35 meshing with the gear I1 and its right-hand terminal gear 35 meshing with the gear ll.

The intermediate gears 21 and 2! pf the differentials l5 and l5 in turn mesh respectively with left and right-hand terminal gears 31 and 38 of the differential l5 The intermediate gear l will rotate in the same direction.

registering train.

of which is driven by the difierential gearing of the character registering train to be described presently. An idler gear 4! is interposed be tween the gears 21 and 39 to compensate for the fact that-an additional differential gear unit 1 is employed in the'character' registering train so that both terminal gears of the differential Since there are five primary driving elements in the character registering train,'a somewhat 1 different arrangement of differential gearing is required than that provided for the letter space gears 21* and 21 of the two differentials drive the terminal gears 46 and 41 of the differential l5". Intermediate g'ear 21 of this differential drives one terminal gear 48 of the differential l5, the other terminal gear 49 of this differential being driven directly by the primary gear il through the medium of idler gears 58 and 55. As the differential I5 is last in the train, its intermediate gear 21 is arranged to drive the I terminal gear of differential Iii while the other terminal of this differential is connected with the letter space registering train. Thus the differential it: couples the gear trains of the The two groups of primary driving elements. combined movement of the elements is accordingly transmitted to the register drive shaft it by the intermediate gear 21 of the last men- ,tioned differential which meshes with a pinion 52'fast on the shaft l0.

Each of the primary driving'elements It to and each permutational combination of such elements is effective to impart a rotative step of different length to the register drive shaft ill in response to a single revolution of the shaft H by reason of the different driving ratios of the various intermeshing pairs of gears, as shown in Fig. 2. Preferably, the gearing is so arranged that the rotative steps of the shaft l0 vary .uniformly so that each step may represent one or more whole units, such .as are commonly used In this case, the gears W and H drive terminal gears 42 and 63 of differential I5 and gears Il and I'l drive terminal ,gears and 45 of differential I5. Intermediate to measure the set width of type slugs or printed characters in the typographical art.

In the particular mechanism illustrated, the four driving elements of the letter space registering train are capable of being clutched selectively to the drive shaft H in fifteen diiferent permutational combinations and are thus adapted to rotate the shaft I0 and with it the pointer Iii to register the width of any one of fifteen spaces differing from each other in multiples of the type unit. The gearing of the primary driving elements of the character registering train issimilarly arranged so that these five elements are enabled to register thirty-one different character widths since the elements can be selectively clutched to the shaft H in any one i quick starting and stopping of the same.

3 to" drive the left-hand terminal gear 39 of the i differential I5 the right-hand terminal gear 50 sary. The letter space registering .train' is thus effective to add a predetemiined' increment to the movement imparted to the register shaft ill by the character registering'train.

As the improved drive mechanism is particularly designed for high speed operation, itis ad'- vantageous to drive the various partswith uniform acceleration and deceleration, thereby minimizing strain on the moving parts and substantially eliminating the shock and jar incidentto To this end, ,the shaft ll .is-arranged to be driven by suitable mechanism, herein shown as gearing arranged to translate the uniform rotation ofa cyclically operable drive shaft into uniformly accelerated and decelerated rotation of aninte-rmediate shaft it which, in the present instance, is drivingly connected with the shaft H through a suitable coupling device 58 (Figs. 2 and 5) to be described hereinafter. ducing the uniformly accelerated motion above referred to includes a driving member 55 (Figs. 5 and 7 to 9) fast on a drive shaft 56 and a driven member 57 fast on th intermediate shaft The shaft 5d may be driven in any suitable manner, and as herein shown is arranged to be driven directly from a cyclically operating shaft 59 (Fig. 4), in this instance, the start-stop shaft of the machine which in turn is driven by a single revolution clutch C of well known'construction deriving power from a constantly driven gear 59 which may be mounted on the shaft of a suitable motor (not shown) as indicated by the legend in the drawings. The driving connection between the shafts 59 and 56, as herein shown, includes bevel gears stL'crossshaft 5i and bevel gears 62.- The gears have-a one to-one ratio so that the shaft 56 executes a single revolution in synchronism with each revolution of the start-stop shaft 59. With this arrange- Referring now to Figs. 5 and 7 to 9, the driving member 55 in its preferred form comprises a generally elliptical gear segment 63 riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to a correspondingly shaped plate 64 carried at one end of a sleeve 65 splined to the shaft 56. The gear segment and plate are disposed eccentrically with respect to the axis of the shaft 56 and each is cut away at one side to form driving and locking surfaces 66 and 67, respectively, which intersect substantially on the axis of the shaft;

The driven member 51 includes an elliptical gear 68 especially shaped to cooperate with the gear segment 63 of the driving member. One side of the segment 68 is extended to form an enlarged gear tooth 69 having opposite side edges vcut to provide oppositely facing pitch surfaces '10 and l l (Fig. 8) for cooperation with the driving and locking surfaces 66 and 61, respectively, of the driving member 55.

Mounted on the hub '65 of the driving member are a pair of radially projecting arms 13 and 14 carrying rollers 15 and 16 adapted to coast respectively with specially formed surfaces on arms TI and I8 rigid with th gear 68 for locking and driving the member 51. The surfaces of the arms Ti and 18 are also pitch surfaces and are v generated from the pitch surfaces Hi and II to assistin imparting the uniformly accelerated and decelerated motion to the driven member as will appear presently.

The gearing for pro- The various elements of the mechanism including the gears 63 and 88 are so positioned on their respective shafts that they occupy the position shown in Fig. '7 at the beginning and end of each operating cycle. This may be called the initial position of the elements. As the shaft 58 moves through the first 60 of its cyclic rotation, the gear 68 remains stationary as the tip of the projecting tooth 89 is locked between the surfaces 66 and 61 of the gear 83. This dwell provides suflicient time for the performance of certain functions of the machine such as the setting of the clutches of the variable drive train as will be described hereinafter. Upon further rotation of the driveshaft 58, driving surface 86 engages the pitch surface 18 of the enlarged gear tooth and rocks the driven member with uniform acceleration to a position in .which the first tooth of the gear 83 engages the first tooth of the gear 88. During this part of the cycle, roller I engages the pitch surface of the arm 'I'! as shown in Fig. 9 to lock the gears together and thus avoid any possibility of the gear 68 running ahead of the driving gear.

The drive is now effected through engagement of the gear teeth while the shaft 58 rotates through the next 270' of its revolution, thev shape of the gears causing the shaft II to accelerate uniformly until it completes one half of its revolution and then to decelerate uniformly. As the last tooth of the gear 63 passes the last tooth of the gear 88, the drive is taken over by the arm I4 and roller 18 acting on the pitch surface of the arm 18 as shown in Fig. 8. This pitch surface is formed to continue the uniform deceleration until the shaft II is brought to rest with the shaft 58 still 30 from its initial position. Overrunning of the driven gear is effecti-vely prevented by the locking action of the locking surface 81 and the pitch surface 'II of the gear 63 and tooth 89, respectively. The locking surface 68 moves into the path of the tip of tooth 68 at the instant the roller 16 leaves the pitch surface of the arm 18 and with driving surface 61, acts to lock the driving and driven members together as above explained, while the driving member completes the last 30 of its movement to initial position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that, by reason of the shape of the gears 83 and 68, the intermediate shaft II is uniformly accelerated in the first half of its revolution and uniformly decelerated in the second half of the revolution. Moreover, the shaft II does not begin to turn until the shaft 56 has rotated through an angle of 60 and it is brought to rest when the shaft 56 is still 30 from rest position. As a result, the first mentioned shaft dwells both at the beginning and the end of each cycle. These dwells provide time for engagement and disengagement of the clutches of the drive mechanism so that the drive mechanism can carry out its intended function in one operating cycle of the machine. It will be understood, of course, that the length of the dwells, as well as their timing with respect to the rotation of the driving member, can be varied as required by appropriately shaping the coacting parts, thereby enabling the drive mechanism to be readily coordinated with the operation of the other elements of the machine.

As stated hereinbefore, the primary drive shaft l I is connected with the intermediate shaft I I? by the coupling mechanism 58 (Figs. 2 and 5). This coupling mechanism,- as .herein shown, comprises a clutch and suitable reversing gears arranged to impart either forward or reverse rotation to the register drive shaft, although it will be understood that the mechanism may, if desired, include speed change gearing capable of varying the extent of rotation of the shaft III in each operating cycle of the machine. In the present instance, the clutch which comprises a part of the coupling mechanism additionally serves as a means for interrupting the rotation of the drive shaft I I and thus prevents operation of the register drive shaft while the machine executes certain functions to be described hereinafter.

In the normal operation of the machinethe shaft I8 is rotated in a forward direction, reverse rotation occurring in the present instance only when it is necessary to cancel, that is to rub-out or kill previously recorded characters as when the corresponding perforated character signals or printed characters are to be blanked out or otherwise rendered ineffective. This is ordinarily done by back spacing (reverse feeding) the tape sumciently to bring the first character to be blanked out under the punches. Thereafter, the character and succeeding characters are blanked out in known manner by successive operations of a rub-out or kill" key. In back spacing the tape, the same keys are used as were operated to punch the original character signals, the keys being operated in reverse order. As each key is operated, the clutches of the primary driving elements are set in'premutational combinations corresponding to the character represented by the key so that the step imparted to the register drive shaft is accurately proportioned to such character. As the step is in the reverse direction with reference to the normal movement of the same,

' that the driven member 8| may be set in an interpointer III is thus turned back to subtract an appropriate amount from the total registered thereby.

The coupling mechanism 58, as shown in Figs. 2' and 5, comprises a shiftable clutch member 8| provided at each end with suitable clutch teeth and splined to the shaft ll so as to rotate therewith, but free to slide longitudinally of the shaft. The clutch teeth on one endof the member are adapted to engage cooperating teeth formed on the adjacent face of a gear 82 keyed to the end of the intermediate shaft II while the teeth onv the other end of the member are adapted to engage cooperating clutch teeth formed on the face of a gear 83. The last mentioned gear is loosely mounted on the shaft I I and is arranged to be driven by the gear 82 but in the reverse direction.

Reverse rotation of the gear 83 is effected in the present instance by driving mechanism including a jack shaft 84 journaled at opposite ends in bearings on the frame I2 and formed with rigid gears 85 and 88 the first of which meshes with the gear 82 and the latter meshes with .an idler gear 81 (Fig. 5) which in turn meshes with the gear 83. When the clutch member8l is shifted to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2. the shaft II is directly coupled with the shaft II and driven in.

the same direction. When the clutch member is shifted to the right, the drive is taken through the gears 82, 85, 88, 81 and 83 and the rotation of the shaft is therefore reversed. Further, the driving members 82 and 83 are spaced apart so mediate or neutral position to interrupt the driving connection for the shaft I I.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that by reason of the novel arrangement of the clutches and gearing, a variably movable part such as the shaft l may be moved either forwardly or backwardly in incrementally varying steps accurately proportioned to the set widths of characters and spaces composed in a line. Moreover, the part is uniformly accelerated and decelerated regardless of its direction of movement or of the length of the step imparted thereto, thereby adapting the mechanism for high speed operation.

Various means may be utilized for setting, that is for engaging and disengaging the clutches of the primary driving elements in different combinations selectively to govern the length of the step imparted to the shaft Ill and to determine the direction of movement of the same. The particular. setting means to be employed will depend upon thetype of machine in which the variable drive mechanism is incorporated.

Preferably, power actuated means operating under the control of a permutation selector mechanism is employed, and in the case of the tape perforating machine herein shown, the clutches are set in combinations corresponding to character and space signals perforated in the control tape, the number of different combinations possible being, in the present instance, thirty-one for the character registering train and fifteen for the letter space registering train.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 5, the means for setting the clutches in its preferred form comprises a plurality of clutch shifter bars 9i and 9|, inclusive, operatively associated with the primary driving elements M to M inclusive, and a shifter bar 9! similar in all respects to the first mentioned shifter bars and operatively associated with the shiftable member 8! of the re-- ve'rsing clutch. The shifter bars are arranged in side-by-side relation below the shaft H and are I supported and guided for endwise sliding moveits rear end with an upstanding arm 96 having a laterally projecting flange 95 which is slotted as at 96 to fit into a peripheral groove 97 in the associated clutch member. ment, the clutch members, while free to rotate, are adapted to be shifted longitudinally of the shaft H by endwise movement of the associated shifter bars. Thus, when any of the shifter bars 9| to 9t are moved rearwardly, the clutch members of the primary driving elements It to M are locked to the stationary brackets is. Upon movement of the shifter bars forwardly, the associated clutch members engage the collars 29 to 20* to effect a driving connection with the shaft H.

The shifter bar 9| for the reversingclutch 59 functions in the same general manner as the other shifter bars except that, in this case, the ,bar has an intermediate or neutral position in which ,it is effective to disengage the driven member 8| from both of theassociated driving members. When the bar 9| is movedrearwardly from neutral position, it shifts the member 8! into engagement with the driving member 82, thus establishing a direct driving connection between the shaft II and the. shaft II so that the shafts rotate in the same direction. Movement of the shifter bar forwardly from neutral position shifts the member 8| into engagement with'the driving member 83 and the shaft H is thereupon rotated in the reverse direction.

In the exemplary machine shown, the shifter With this -arrange-' bars 9| to SP and 9lf are operated selectively in different permutational combinations by power actuated devices comprising a series of individual floating levers 98 under the control of a series of latch bars 99 forming a part of a permutation selector mechanism of the' keyboard type to be described in detail hereinafter. For convenience of identification the latch bars associated with the floating levers of the shifter bars 9| to 9| are designated by the reference characters 99 to 99 while the latch bar associated with the floating lever for the shifter bar 9| is designated by the reference character 99'. As will be seen by reference to Figs. 4 and 5, the floating levers 98' are assembled in side-by-side relation and pivoted intermediate their ends on an oscillating support in the form of a horizontal rod 102 extending below and transversely of the these parts. The lower end of each lever is pivoted to one of the latch bars 99 which, as herein shown, are disposed substantially parallel to the shifter bars 9| and are likewise slidably supported for endwise movement.

Means is provided for rocking the shaft I04 to move the floating lever assembly forwardly to an advanced position and then back to normal rest position in each operating cycle of the machine, and shifting movements are imparted to selected ones of the shifter bars under the control of their corresponding latch bars 99 to 99 and 99'. As herein shown, the means for rocking the shaft EM comprises a cam I05 fast on a shaft I06 (Fig. 4), in this instance, the main cam shaft of the machine which is arranged to be driven cyclically from theshaft 59 through the medium of bevel gears I91. Cooperating with the cam I95 is a double cam follower I98 fast on a rock shaft 509 which has a crank arm [it connected by a rigid link HI with a crank arm H2 fast on the shaft I041 The cam M5 is thus enabled to rock the shaft positively in both its blocked, in which case the shifter bar is advenced against the action of the detent H3.

The selective blocking of; the latch bars is effected, in the present instance, by means of control barswhich in the exemplary machine, constitute permutational elements of the keyboard mechanism. This mechanism may be of any suitable type and, as herein shown, comprises a plurality of character and function keys K (Figs. 1, 4 and 10) arranged in a series of paralhold the keys in their normal elevated position.

The flags for the character keys of which only one flag I24 is shown by way of illustration, are notched along their upper edges sov as to control in well known manner the operation of the permutation elements or control bars.v These flags as well as the flags of certain of the function keys are also utilized to initiate an operating cycle of the machine whenever the associated key is depressed. To this end, the flags are extended to the rear of the machine into operative relation with means for tripping the main clutch C which drives thestart-stop shaft 59. The clutch tripping means is so arranged that the operation is invariably limited to 'a single cycle, in this instance consisting of a single revolution of the shaft 59.

The clutchv tripping means in its preferredform comprises a series of pivoted members I21 each articulated to one of the flags I24 to be rocked about its pivot when the flag is shifted rearwardly upon the depression of its associated key. A spring I21 normally tends to hold the member in a retracted position and the associated flag in its forward position. When the member I21 is rocked out of retracted position, it engages a bail I28 and rocks a shaft I29 which has a radially projecting flnger I30 cooperating with a pair of spring latches I3I and I32. The latch I3I is normally positioned to block one arm of a pivoted three-arm lever I33 whose other arms are operatively connected to a release bar I34 and a locking bar I35 respectively. Upon withdrawal of the latch I3I incident to the depression of a key, the lever I33 is rocked about its pivot by a spring I36 to shift the release bar I34 rearwardly and to shift the locking bar I35 to the right as viewed in Fig. 4.

The locking bar I35 is disposed below forwardly projecting lugs I35 of the several pivoted elements I21 and its rearward edge is notched to provide clearance for the lugs. When the latch bar is shifted by the lever I33-as above explained, the notches are withdrawn from the path of the lugs I35 and the bar accordingly operates in well known manner tolock an operated member I21 and its associated flag in operated position and to prevent operation of a second flag.

Movement of the release bar I34 in response to the withdrawal of the latch I3I serves to trip the clutch C for an operating cycle by withdrawing a detent I31 from blocking relation to a finger I38 carried by the driven element of the clutch. Upon completion of the operating cycle the detent is again positioned to block the clutch finger and the members I21 are released by return of the release bar and locking bar to normal retracted position, such return being effected by suitable means such as a cam on the main cam shaft I06 as shown and described in the prior application Serial No. 62,742, above referred to.

If the key which initiates the operating cycle is released before the cycle is completed, the latch I3I again engages the lever I 33 and holds the release and locking bars in retracted position. If this key should be held depressed, the auxiliary latch I32 occupies such a position as to block the member I33 and thus hold the bars retracted to prevent initiation of another 'operating cycle.

In the particular machine illustrated, two independent sets of control bars, namely, a set of punch control bars I4I (Fig. 5) and a set of regoperate through the medium of notches I4I" cooperating with punch feeler rods P (Figs. 1 and 10) to control the punches PP of a perforating mechanism PM for perforating combinations of holes in a strip of tape T. For this purpose; the punches and feeler rods are pivoted respectively on opposite ends of floating levers FL which are shifted toward and from the control bars in each operating cycle by suitable cam means on the main cam shaft 59 acting through a follower and linkage F as indicated in Fig. l. The tape T is advanced relative to the mechanism step by step in timed relation to the other operations of the machine by a feed roller I42 driven from the shaft II in any suitable manner.

Where printing mechanism is employed, the bars I control such mechanism in the manner disclosed in the prior patent hereinbefore referred to and in copending application Serial No. 313,851 (see Fig. 22). In .the present instance, certain of the control bars I4I are additionally utilized to control the latch bars for setting the clutches of the letter space registering train, as

font the letter A may have a width of twelve.

units and in another font a width of fourteen units, the unit being a predetermined fraction of the fEM of the particular font involved, as is well known in-the typographical art. The register of the composing machine must, however, be operated so as to register the exact width of the character so as to provide an accurate indication of the space available in the line.

A machine equipped with the auxiliary set of control bars for the character registering train can accordingly be conditioned for composing in any font by merely inserting a suitable set of register control bars I42 for the font to be composed. This may be done in a number of ways as by bodily replacing one set of bars with another or a plurality of sets may be permanently installed in the machine along with suitable means such as a font selector flag or flags for selecting one set of bars at a timefor operation.

The set of register control bars I42, as herein shown, is divided into two groups of five bars each, one for upper case characters and one for lower case characters. The particular group to be operated is determined by a case shift flag I43 ((Fig. 4) operable to either of two positions by the usual case shift key or keys (not shown) and cooperating with the bars I42 in a well known manner so as to be effective in each operation to lock one group of bars in retracted position and release the other group of bars to the control of the character key flags I24.

The entire set of control bars is extended to cooperate with the latch bars 99 to 99. The lower edges of the first mentioned bars aresuitably notched so as to provide clearance for the latch bars when in normal retracted position but operative when advanced to block a particular onevof the latch bars against movement. As explained above, blocking of the latch bar causes the associated shifter bar to advance and shift acceleration and deceleration.

key flags operated, certain of the bars will be blocked while others will be free to moveto fully advanced position, in which position they serve to exert their control on the latch bars 99 to 99 to set thev clutches of the character registering train, that is, the clutches for the primary driving elements I4 to I4 in the combination corresponding to the character signal perforated in thecontrol tape.

By reason of the timing of the cam I05 the.

floating lever assembly of the clutch shifting mechanism is swung forwardly following the selective positioning of the control bars. The latch bars which encounter operated control bars are blocked against forward movement, hence, their associated shifter. bars 9| advance with the floating lever assembly and effect a corresponding "setting of the clutches I4 to I4 Thus the combination in which the clutches are set is deter mined by the particular character key operated and the clutches are accordingly conditioned to drive the register shaft I through a step proportioned to the character represented by the key.

The foregoing operations occur during the initial dwell in the rotation of the shaft I I. Following the setting of the clutches, the shaft is rotated through a single revolution with uniform The engaged clutches, accordingly act to rotate the register drive shaft I through a step proportioned to the width of the character. This rotation is executed with uniform acceleration and deceleration regardless of the length of the step.

During the final dwell in the rotation of the shaft II, the floating lever assembly is rocked back to normal position, the control bars having been previously restored to retracted position by operation of the bail I44. As the floating lever assembly executes its return movement, the latch 1 bars 99 to 99 are moved against a fixed stop I46 (Figs.- 5' and 6) wherebythe associated clutch shifterbars 9I to 9I are again shifted rearwarclly" to disengage all of the clutches I4 to M at the end of the cycle. The stop I46 is cut away as at I46 to'provide a passageway for the latch bars, 99 to 99 so that the clutches of the letter spaceregistering train are not disengaged in the normal operating cycle of the machine. The

limit,position of theshifter bars is determined byahired stop I41.-

, .,g.wn n letter spacing is to be introduced into th"c'omposition, two special signals, namely, a

function signal hereinafter called, the letter space signal followed by a numeral signal which is indicative of the width of the space to appear in the final composition are'perforated in the control tape. The letter space signal serves to condition the typographic machine with which the tape is used for adjusting the printing, typecasting, or other operating mechanism under control of the numeral signal so that subsequent characters will be spaced apart as called for by space numeral signal.

the latter signal. This condition is maintained until a-new letter space signal and numeral signal appear in the control tape.

In the exemplary machine, perforation of both the letter space signal and the numeral signal is controlled by the main set of control bars' I in successive operating cycles of the machine. The control bars are released in the proper combination to form the letter space signal under control of a letter space signal flag I48 (Fig. 4) adapted to be'actuated by a letter space key (not shown) similar to the other keys of the keyboard. Since the letter space signal is a function signal, its flag I48 is arranged to block the register control bars- I42 to prevent operation of the register shaft in this cycle.

The letter space numeral signal preferably is one of a group of character signals perforated in response to the depression of the appropriate character key. Its functional character is identified by the preceding letter space signal which conditions the typographical machine to respond by adjusting the spacing mechanism instead of printing or otherwise producing the' character corresponding to the signal. In the perforating machine, the character signal designating the letter space numeral determines the setting of the clutches for the driving. elements of the letter space registering train so that the widths of the letter spaces will be properly registered in subsequent cycles of the machine.

In order to enable the control bars to control the setting of the clutches I4 to I4 of the letter space registering train only following an operation of the letter space key, the latch bars 99 to 99 for the letter space registering train are normally held in an inactive position in which they are disassociated from the control bars I4I. Means is provided for temporarily moving the latch bars out of inactive position and into operative relation to the control bars I4I only when such bars are operated to perforate the letter To this end, the latch bars 99 to 99 are supported for limited edgewise movement in a vertical plane by means of a guide plate I 5| (Fig. 5) carried on an arm I52 fast on a rock shaft I53. The shaft is norm-ally held in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 by a spring I55 acting on an arm I55 rigid with the shaft.

With the shaft so positioned, the latch bars are held substantially below the control bars so that the latter exert no controlling action thereon. When the shaft is rocked to operated position, the latch bars are raised suficiently to cooperate .with the control bars in the usual manner.

Preferably, the shaft I53 is rocked to operated position in the machine cycle in which the letter space signal is perforated in the tape and is latched in this position during the succeeding cycle in which the letter space numeral signal is perforated. The mechanism for accomplishing this result, as herein shown, includes a letter space control bar I56 similar to the control bars hereinbefore described which is released for movement by its spring I45 in response to the operation of the letter space flag I48. The control bar on moving to the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, conditions a power actuated operator for rocking the shaft I53 to raise the latch bars 99 to 99 to their upper position.

Referring again to Fig. 4, the actuator in its preferred form comprises a push rod I51 arranged tobe moved forwardlyand back in each operating cycle of the machine by means of an arm I58 .fast on a rock shaft I59 to which is secured a double cam follower I66 cooperating with a cam I6I on the main cam shaft Hi6. The

forward end of the push rod I51 is held in ver-' shaft I64 which has a depending flnger I65 en-- gaging in a notch in the control bar I56. A

9 latch I61 is withdrawn to release the shaft I56 I which immediately returns to normal position spring I66 acting on the push rod normally holds it in an elevated position above the end of the arm I55.

when the control bar I56 is moved to operated position upon the depression of the letterspace key, shaft I64 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction and, through the arm I63, depresses the push rod into the path of the arm I55. Accordingly, when the push rod is moved forwardly by the cam I6I, it acts through the arm I55 to rock the shaft I53 and raise the latch bar guide plate II and latch bars 99 to 99 to their upper position for control by the bars I. The push rod is maintained in its lower position independently of the arm I 63by a rearwardly projecting shoulder I55 on the arm I55 which engages the forward end of the push rod. Near the end of the cycle, the push rod is retracted and, as it moves out of engagement with the shoulder I55, the spring I66 restores it to the normal position shown in the drawings. I

The latch bars, however, are held in raised position during the remainder of this operating cycle and through a portion of the succeeding operating cycle by means of a pivoted latch I61 adapted to engage in a notch in the end of an elongated latch lug I68 formed integrally with the arm I55. When the shaft I53 is rocked to operated position by engagement of the push rod with the arm I55 as above described, a spring I69 draws the latch I61 into the notch in the latch lug so that the shaft I53 and associated parts are held in their operated position and the latch, in turn, is held in latching position after the push rod is retracted.

The forward movement of the push rod 851 is so timed that the latch bars are moved to elevated position after the floating lever assembly has been rocked forwardly but'before it has returned to normal position. Upon return movement of the floating levers, shoulders I16 (Fig. 5) on the upper edges of the now elevated latch bars engage a stop I1I which blocks the bars against rearward movement, thereby rendering the floating levers operative to cause the associated shifter bars 9| to 9I to move all of theprimary driving elements I4 to I4 rearwardly and thus lock them in disengage-d position. This prepares the driving elements for resetting (in accordance with the selected letter space numeral signal) in the next operating cycle of the machine. l

In such succeeding cycle the letter space numeral signal is perforated in the control tape by actuation of an appropriate one of the character keys and the clutches of the primary driving elements I4 to I4 are set accordingly. This setting of the clutches is accomplished through the medium of the flag I24 of the depressed key, re-

leas n one or a combination of four of the control bars I4I cooperating with the latch bars 69 to 99. The latter act to transfer the setting of the control bars to the clutches pf the elements I4 to I4 of the letter space registering train as hereinbefore explained. As soon as the clutches have been set and before the floating lever assembly begins its return movement, the

under the action of the spring I54, thus returning the latch bars 99 to 66F to inactive position in which they are removed from operative association with the control bars I and the stop I1 I The withdrawal of thelatch is effected in the present instance by the push rod I51 which, in

its raised position, is adapted to engage a latch releasing finger I12 rigid with the latch I61. Accordingly, the. push rod in moving forwardly in this cycle withdraws the latch so that the latch bars may be returned to inactive position in time to prevent disengagement of the set clutches by the stop Ill. The clutches of the letter space registering .train are thus left in set position so that in subsequent cycles of the machine, the

letter space increment will be registered coinci-.

dent with the registration of each character width by the character registering train.

In order'to prevent false operation of the register drive shaft in the perforation of the letter space and letter space numeral signal, means Is provided for shifting the clutch member 8| to neutral position in the operating cycles required for such signals. This means, as herein shown, comprises a neutral control bar I13 arranged to be released selectively by a flag I13 (Fig. 4)

hereinafter termed the numeral flag. This flag has no finger key associated with it but is adapted to be moved into operative position in the preceding machine cycle in response to the operation of the letter space key. To this end, the letter space flag I46 is formed with a lateral extension I14 engaging in a notch I15 in the upper edge of the numeral flag. The notch is of such length that the letter space flag may be restored to normal position while the numeral A springpressed detent I16 supported and guided for vertical movement in a stationary bracket I11 engages in a notch in the edge of the flag I13 to hold the flag in operated position independently of the letter space flag. As long as the flag I13 isin operated position, "the neutral bar I13 is permitted to advance. In this position, the neutral bar is in blocking relation to the latch bar 59', the latter being notched in a manner such as to enable it to execute only a partial movement, as for example, a half stroke under these conditions. As a result. the associated clutch shifter bar 9| is advanced'to shift the clutch member 6| into neutral position,'thereby disconggcting the driven shaft II fromthe drive shaft Near the end of the operating cycle, the latch I16 is automatically withdrawn to release the numeral flag and thus condition the machine for perforating ordinary character signals. Such withdrawal is effected by a pivoted detent withdrawing lever I18 operated by a cam I16 on the main cam shaft through the medium of a cam follower 86 and a rigid link I Upon its release, the numeral flag I13 returns to retracted position and again blocks the neutral bar 813 so that normal operation of the drive mechanism may be resumed in the next cycle of the machine.

' The driving elements of the letter space registering train retain their permutational settin until disengaged by reoperation of the letter space signal key. Accordingly, upon each subsequent actuation of the character key with attendant operation of the character registering train to corresponding to the letter space is imparted to the shaft by the letter space registering train. In this way, the register is operated in a manner such as to provide an exact indication of the space to be occupied by the characters In the final composition.

In the normal operation of the machine for perforating character signals inlthe control tape, the register drive shaft is rotated in a forward direction so as to register the accumulative width the reverse feed key RF which sets the clutch- 81 for driving the shaft ii reversely as will appear presently. This shaft in turn drives the tape feed mechanism disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 313,851, filed January 1941. The operator then actuates in reverse order the same keys by which the signals were originally recorded in the control strip. As

each key is operated, the tape is fed back one step and the clutches of the character registering train are set in a combination to subtract the proper amount from the total accumulated on the register. The key FF is now depressed to reset the clutch 81 for forward feed and a rubou or kill" key R0 (Fig. 1) is operated once for each signal to be deleted. The flag for this key is arranged to position the punch control bars I4I for punching all hole positions in the strip or tape while the register control bars 142 are positimed to disengage all of the clutches of the character registering train and thus prevent operation of the register during the cancelling operation.

In the exemplary machine, forward and reverse operation of the tape feeding means and the registering mechanism is controlled by the keys FF and RF through the medium of control bars 1 and flags including a forward feed control bar I81 (Fig. 4) and a reverse feed control bar I82 released for operation respectively by a forward feed fiag I83 and a reverse feed flag I84 actuated respectively by the keys FF and RF. These flags, are generally similar to the flags of the character keys,.a.nd in this instance are interconnected by a lever I86 pivoted between the bars H and having its opposite ends engaging in notches in the respective bars. With this arrangement, movement of one bar to operated position automatically acts to restore the other bar to retracted position. v

The function control bars I81 and I82 are utilized in the present instance for the purpose of disengaging the clutch 8I which drives the shaft I I of the variable drive mechanism so as to prevent operation of the registering mechanism, and also for conditioning an auxiliary-control bar I81 for setting the clutch in one or the other of its spectively with oppositely projecting arms I88 and I89 of a detent member I98 pivoted on a vertical shaft I98 above the control bar I81 and to move the detent member between alternate positions. The detent member is adapted to be held in either position by ineans of an over-center device includin a net ion! spring I91 anchored at one end on'the machine frame and having its other end engaging in a notch in a plate I92 rigid with the shaft I88. Substantially midway of the arms I88 and I88 of the detent member is a radially projecting finger i98. Accordingly, upon operation of the control bar I I82, the finger I93 is adapted to be interposed in the path of a shoulder I'Qd on the control bar 58? and by holding the bar in retracted position, it blocks the latch. bar 98', thereby causing the clutch element 8! to be shifted to reverse position.

When the'forward feed key is depressed, the forward feed fiag Q88 advances to partially block the fiag 98' and rocks the detent finger I88 out of the path of the control bar 68? so that in subsequent operating cycles of the machine the control bar will be free to execute its full movement and thus unblock the latch bar 98'. Under these conditions, the clutch 88 is set in its forward driving position. 7

When the reverse feed key is operated, the reverse feed flag I88 advances and rocks the detent finger I83 toward blocking position. The finger does not engage the notch I9 8 at this time, however, as the fiag I81 is in advanced position at this time having moved forwardly with the retrol strip and subtract from the register the space increment represented by a previously perforated signal. The length of the step through which the shaft is moved is determined by the setting of the clutches of the character registering train and letter space registering train. The latter, of course, retain their previous setting while the former are set by the control bars 162 in accordance with the particular character key depressed. Thus the previously registered character width as well as the letter space increment will be canceled from the register so that it may indicate accurately the space remaining in the line.

In preparing a control strip or tape for typographical machines by means of the composing machine or perforator, herein shown and declutch element 8| into its intermediate or neutral position.

For conditioning the control bar I81, the conscribed. the operator initially inserts appropriate signals for setting the typographical machine for the particular letter spacing required by the composition. This is done by first depressing the letter space key and then an appropriate letter space numeral key which may be one of the character keys.

Upon depression of the letter-space key the letter space signal is perforated in the control tape, the latch bars 89 to 98 are shifted to active position for cooperation with the punch control bars I, and the clutches for the primary ,driving'elements I4 to I4. of the letter the control bars remains stationary and no movement is imparted to the register drive shaft l9.

When the letter space numeral key is operated the machine executes the usual operating cycle I and the corresponding letter space numeral signal is perforated in the control tape. At the same time the primary driving elements I to l4 are conditioned for operation selectively in a. combination corresponding to the s1gnalperforated in the tape. This is accomplished by selectively engaging the clutches associated with these elements as determined by the setting of lll, the setting of the bars being transferred to the clutches by shiftable devices constituting a part of the transfer mechanism. Near the end of the cycle the latch bars 99 to 99 are returned to inactive position in which they no longer cooperate with the control bars Ill. The latter bars -may thus perform their usual punch controlling functions in succeeding cycles without disturbing the set condition of the clutches of the letter space registering train. The letter space numeral flag llii and the neutral bar I13 are also restored to normal position and thus enable the clutch member 8| to drive the primary drive shaft ll forwardly in succeeding operating cycles.

Having inserted the preliminary condition signals in the tape, the operator now proceeds to depress a succession of character and space keys to compose the matter to appear in the ultimate printed copy. Each character key when depressed releases the punch control bars MI in predetermined permutational combinations to effect the perforation of corresponding permutational signals in the tape. At the same time the character key flags release the register control bars M2 in the permutational combination assigned to designate the width of the characters represented by the keys. The control bars of only one sub group advance at this time, however, depending upon the particular case shift key in operated position.

The permutational setting of the control bars I42 conditions the primary driving elements W to I4 of the character width registering train for operation in a like combination. For this purpose, the setting of the bars is transferred to the, clutches for the primary driving elements by shiftable devices, in this instance the shifter bars of the transfer mechanism. The clutches are thus set selectively to connect the primary driving elements with the shaft II or to lock them stationary in a combination corresponding to the combinational setting of the control bars.

The above operations take place during'the initial 60 of rotation of the main cam shaft 59 and thereafter'the shaft II, which constitutes the actuating member of thevariable drive mechanism and which has a fixed range of movement, is operated through a single revolution. This movement is executed with uniform acceleration and deceleration. The primary driving elements which were clutched to this shaft, including the elements of both the character width registering train and the letter space registering train rotate with the shaft. The movements of the elements are combined by differential gearing and imparted to a variably movable part, in this case the register drive shaft. The shaft is thereby moved through a step accurately proportioned to the set width of the character corresponding to the signal perforated in the tape and an increment is added to correspond to the letter space.

It will be seen from the above that the permutational setting 'of the clutches of the primary driving elements determines .the length of the step to be imparted to the movable part by the movement of the actuating member through its (ill fixed range. This is made possible by interconnecting the elements through a series of differential gear units which combine the movements of the various elements into proportionate movement of a single part such as the recorder drive shaft. Moreover, since the actuating member executes its movement with uniform acceleration and deceleration, the movable part is likewise uniformly accelerated and decelerated regardless of the amplitude of its movement. Inthis way the cumulative widths of characters and spaces entering into a composition may be accurately registered and the operator apprised at all times of the amount of the unfilled space remaining in a line. The operator may therefore readily determine when the line should be terminated.

At the end of the cycle above described in which the character signal is perforated in the control tape and after the variably movable part has been operated, the transfer mechanism acts to disengage the clutches of the character width registering train from the shaft ll and to lock them all stationary. The clutches for the letter space registering train remain engaged, however, so that this part of the mechanism is enabled to operate in succeeding cycles to add the letter space increment to the character widths subsequently recorded. r

If it is necessary at any time to delete certain of the character signals perforated in the control tape, the operator actuates the reverse feed key and then depresses successively th keys corresponding to the signals to be deleted. Under these conditions the control tape is fed reversely until each of the character signals to be blanked out is returned to the incoming side (right side as viewed in, Fig. 1) of the perforating mechanism whereby these signals may be presented successively for the action of the punches in response to successive actuations of the rub-out key. It will be understood, of course, that forward feeding of the tape is restored by actuation of the forward feed key FF- before the rub-out key is actuated. The depression of each character key in the manner above set forth sets the clutches of the characterwidth registering train selectively in exactly the same manner as in normal composition.

However, as long as the reversing key remains operated, the clutch member 8| of the coupling mechanism 58 is shifted to reverse position in each operating cycle so that the shaft ll rotates reversely. Due to this reverse rotation of the shaft ll the register drive shaft I0 is moved in a reverse directionin steps accurately proportioned to the width of the character deleted. Thus the previously registered character widths are subtracted from the register so that the same may represent accurately the exact state of the composition. These reverse movements .of the registered drive shaft are executed with uniform acceleration and deceleration in the same way as the forward movements of the shaft.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides a variable drive mechanism; of novel and improved construction particularly suitable for variably operating an incrementally movable part such as is commonly used in typographical composing machines including control tape perforators, printers, line casting machines and typecasting machines. The mechanism as The invention also provides novel means for controlling the incremental movements of a variably movable partsuch as an indicator or the like by an actuating member having a fixed range of movement. This control is exercised selectively through the medium of permutably operable shiftable devices, such as clutches interconnected by a novel combination of differential gearing. Moreover, the movements of the part are invariablyexecuted in either direction with uniform acceleration and deceleration.

) In another aspect, the invention further provides novel mechanism for selectively setting a group'of clutches orthe like in different permutational combinations together with keyboard apparatus for controlling such mechanism. The keyboard apparatus includes means for temporarily associating certain of the clutch setting elements with the main set of permutational elements of the apparatus and means for disabling the drivemechanism while this function is being performed.

I claim as my invention: 1

1. The combination with a driven shaft to be variably operated, of a power driven cyclically operated drive shaft, a plurality of rotary elements, selectively operable means'for conditioned to beirotated in incremental steps of varying length, of a drive shaft operated cyclically through a fixed angular step, a series of clutches each having a driving member fast on said drive shaft and a driven member loose on the shaft, means for engaging the clutch members selectively in different permutational combinations,

and differential gearing interposed between the .driven clutch members and said driven shaft operative to rotate the driven shaft through a step proportioned to the combined movements of the clutch members by the drive shaft.

5. The combination witha part adapted to 2 moved in incremental steps of varying length, of an actuating member operated cyclically through a fixed range of movement, a series of differenti'als arranged to drive the part, each of said difierentials having a pair of terminal ele-v ments and an intermediate. element, a plurality of shiftable devices acting when in one position to render said member operative to impart a predetermined movement to one of said intermediate elements and when in another position to lock the element stationary, and selectively operable means for setting said devices in different permutational combinations to determine the length of the step to be imparted to the part in th movement of the actuatingmemberin different permutational combinations, and an additional differential having terminal elements drivingly connected respectively with the intermediate elements of said first mentioned difing said elements to be driven by said drive shaft.

in different permutational combinations, and means drivingly connecting said elements with said driven shaft.

2. The combination with a driven shaft adapted to be rotated in incremental steps of varying length, of a drive. shaft operated cyclically through a fixed angular step, a series of differentials arranged to drive said driven shaft, each of said differentials having a pair of terminal elements, and devices operable selectively for conditioning said terminal elements to be driven by said drive shaft in different permutational combinations to vary the length of the step imparted to the driven shaft inthe rotation of thedrive shaft through its fixed angular step.

3. The combination with a part to be-moved in incremental steps of varying length, of an actuating member having a fixed range of movement, power driven means operablecyclically for moving said member through its fixed range, a plurality of driving elements, means for conditioning said elements for movement by said member selectively in diflerent permutational combinations, and differentially operating means [interposed between said elements and the part operative to move the I portioned to the comb ed movements of said elements by the actuating member.

4. The combination with a driven shaft adapt art through a step proferentials and having its intermediate element drivingly connected with the part to be moved.

'7. The combination with a part to be moved in incremental steps of varying length, of an actuating member operated cyclically through a fixedrange of movement, a plurality of differentials arranged to drive the part, each of said differentials having a pair of terminal elements and an intermediate element, means drivingly connecting the intermediate elements of said difi'erent-ials with the part, and selectively operable means for conditioning the terminal elements of said differentials to be driven by said actuating member in different permutational combinations-to determine the length of the step imparted to said part in the movement of the actuating member through its fixed range.

8. The combination with a part to be moved in incremental steps of varying length, of 'an actuating member operated cyclically through a fixed range of movement, a plurality of differentials arranged to drive the part, each of said differentials having a pair of terminal elements and an intermediate element, means'driving'ly connecting the intermediate elements of said differentials with the part, a plurality of shift able devices each operative in one position torender the actuating member effective to'drive one of said terminal elements "and in another position to lock the terminal element against gears, a series of gears slidably mounted on said .drive shaft each meshing with one of the diiferential terminal gears, clutch teeth on said slidable gear operative to engage cooperating clutch teeth of an element fast on the drive shaft, other clutch teeth on said gear operative to engage cooperating clutch teeth of a stationary member,

- and selectively operable means for shifting said slidable gears to engage the clutch teeth with one or the other of the cooperating elements in diflerent permutational combinations to determine the length of the step to be imparted to the driven shaft by the drive shaft in its cyclic operation.

10. The combination with a driven shaft to be variably operated, of a power driven cyclically operated drive shaft, a series of differentials each having terminal gears adapted for connection with the drive shaft, a second series of differentials having their terminal gears driven by the intermediate gears of differentials of said first series, and a third differential having its terminal gears driven by the intermediate gears of the differentials of the second series and its intermediate gear drivingly connected with the driven shaft, and selectively operable means for conditioning the terminal gears of said first series of differentials to be driven by said drive shaft in different permutational combinations.

11. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a power driven shaft, a first group of clutches adapted to be drivingly associated with said shaft in different permutational combinations, a second group of clutches adapted to be drivingly associated with said shaft in different permutational combinations, and differential gearing arranged to communicate the combined movements of said clutches to an incrementally movable part.

12. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a shaft to be rotated in incremental steps, a power driven shaft, a first group of elements adapted to be driven by the second shaft, a second group of elements adapted to be driven by the second shaft, independently operable means for conditioning the elements of each group to be driven by the second shaft in different permutational combinations, and differential gearing arranged to communicate the combined movements of said elements to said first shaft.

13. A selectively operable mechanism comprising, in combination with a part to be moved, an actuating member having a fixed range of movement, and means for transmitting the fixed movement of said member to said part to move the latter in steps of varying amplitude comprising, a transmission mechanism having a plurality of driving elements, a driven element operatively associated with said part, differentially operating means for combining movements imparted to selected ones of said driving elements into a single movement in said driven element, and means rendering said actuating member opera tive to actuate said driving elements selectively in different permutational combinations.

14. In a selectively operable mechanism, the

combination of a part to be moved, an actuating 7 member having a fixed range of movement, means for transmitting the movement of said member to said part in steps of varying amplitude comprising, a. differentially cfperating transmission mechanism having a plurality of driving elements, selectively operable means for conditioning said elements to be moved by said member in different permutational combinations, a driven element operatively associated with said parts and means for combining the movements imparted to the driving elements by said member in a single movement in said driven element.

15. In a selectively operable mechanism, the combination of a part to be moved, an actuating member having a fixed range of movement, and means for transmitting the movement of said member to said part in steps of varying amplitude comprising atransmission mechanism having a pluralitysof driving elements arranged for operative association with said member in different permutational combinations selectively, a driven element connected with said part, and dif-' ferentially operating means for combining the movements imparted to selectedones of the driving elements by said member into 'a single movement in said driven element.

16. In a selectively operable mechanism, the combination of a part to be moved, an actuating member having a fixed range of movement, a plurality of devices arranged to be set selectively in any oneof a plurality of different permutational combinations, and diiferentially operating means for transmitting the fixed movement of said member to said part in varying steps according to the permutational setting of said elements.

17. In a selectively operable mechanism, the combination of a part to be moved, an actuating member having a fixed range of movement, a plurality of elements arranged to be conditioned selectively to be moved by said member in any one of a plurality of difierent permutational combinations, and differentially operating means acting to transmit the combined movements of said combinations to determine the step to be imparta ed to said shaft, and a second group of clutches adapted to be set selectively in different permutational combinations each designating a predetermined increment to be added to the steprimparted to the shaft by said first group of clutches.

19. In a cyclically operable machine, in combination, a shaft to be rotated in incremental steps, driving means for said shaft including a power driven shaft, a group of elements adapted to be conditioned to be driven by the driven shaft in different permutational combinations, gearing arranged to communicate the combined movements of said elements to sa'idifirst shaft in each operating cycle, means for modifying the action of said driving means comprising a second group of elements adapted to'be conditioned to be driven by said driven shaft in different permutational combinations, and gearing arranged to communicate the combined movement of said second group of elements to said first s af 1 4 h multaneously with the movement of the shaft .by said first group of elements.

\ 20. In combination, a driven shaft, a p wer actuated cyclically operated drive shaft, two s 'oups of clutches associated with said drive shaft, m'eans operative in each cycle for engaging the clutches of one of said groups with said drive shaft selectively in different per-mutational in incremental steps in each regular operating aaoesss tending generally parallel to said shaft and 0p effective to move said shifter ban incident to the oscillation of said support.

25, The combination with a shaft adapted to, be rotated in incremental steps of varying length, of a drive shaft operated cyclically through a nxed angular step, a series of shiftable clutch v elements loosely mounted on said shaft, a, corresponding series of clutch elements fast on said shaft each adapted to be engaged by one of said shiftable elements, clutch shifting means for each'shiftable element including a shifter bar ex'- eratively connected with the associated element, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on an oscillating support and'having one end operatively connected with the shifter bar, means for oscillating said support to. move the pivotal point of saidlever longitudinally of the shifter bar, said lever normally rocking on its pivot while the bar cycle comprising a first group of clutches and a second group of .clutches, means for setting the clutches of said first group selectively in different permutational combinations each representing a predetermined step to be imparted to said shaft, means for setting the clutches of said second group selectively in different permutational combinations each representing an increment to be added to the step imparted to said shaft by the first group of clutches, and means for disabling said first clutch setting means while said second clutch setting means is operating.

22. The combination with a cyclically operable shaft iournaled on a stationary member, of a clutch having a driving element fast on the shaft, a driven element loosely mounted on. the shaft and movable longitudinally thereof to engage either said driving element or said stationary 1 member, power actuated means for shifting said driven element to either of its two'positions, and selectively operable means for controlling said power actuated means. to determine the position of the driven element.

23. The combination with a cyclically operable shaft journaled on a stationary member, of a; vclutch having a driving elements fast on the shaft, a driven element loosely mounted on the shaft and movable longitudinally thereof to engage either said driving element or saidstationgary member, means for shifting said driven element to either of its positions comprising a shifter bar operatively connected to the element and extending generally parallel to the shaft,'power actuated means for imparting endwise movements to the bar in either direction, and selecremains stationary, and. selectively operable means for blocking the other end of said lever to prevent such rocking of the lever whereby the shifter bar is moved forwardly to-engage the associated clutch element.

26. The combination with a shaft adapted to be rotated in incrementalsteps of varying length,

of a drive shaft operated cyclically through a fixed angular step, a series of shiftable clutch elements loosely mounted on said shaft, 3. corresponding series of clutch elements fast on said shaft each adapted to be engaged by one of said shiftable elements, clutch shifting means for each pivoted intermediate its ends .on an oscillating shiftable element including a shifter bar extending generally parallel to said shaft and operative-' ly connected with the associated element, a lever support and having one end operatively connected with the shifter bar, means, for oscillating said support, said lever normally rocking on its pivot tively operable means for controlling saidpower actuated means.

I 24. The combination with a cyclically operable a driven element loosely mounted on the shaft and movable longitudinally thereof to engage either said driving element or said stationary member, means for shifting said driven element while the bar remains stationary, a series of blocking elements adapted to be positioned for blocking the respective levers to prevent such, rocking movement whereby the levers are rendered effective to advance their associated shifter bars to engage the clutches, and selectively operable means for operating said blocking elements.

27. The combination with a cyclically operable shaft Journaled on a stationary member, of a clutch having a driving element fast on the shaft, a, driven element loosely mounted on the shaft and movable longitudinally thereof to engage either said driving element or said stationary member, means for shifting said driven element to either of its positions comprising a shifter bar operatively connectedto the driven element, a support oscillating in a path generally parallel to said bar, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said support for movement with and independently of the support, said lever having one end operatively connected with the shifter bar, a stop coacting with the other end of said lever to block the same upon movement of the support in one to either of, its positions comprising a shifter bar Y operatively vconnected to the driven element, a

support oscillating in apath generally parallel to said bar, a lever pendentlyof the support, said'lever having one end-operatively connected with the shifter bar, and means-operable selectively to block the other end'of said lever and therebyrender the same direction and thereby cause the lever to move the shifter bar so as to engage the driven clutch element with the stationary member, and a member adapted to be moved into position to block 5 pivoted. intermediate its ends onsaid, support for movement with and indesaid one other end of the-lever upon, movement of the support in the oppositedirection and thereby cause the lever to move the shifter bar so as to engage the driven clutch element with said driving element. i

28. In a machine of the class described, in' combination, a cyclically operable shaft, a driven 15- shaft, a plurality of driving elements for driving 

